Community gathers at former church to rally for gay marriage

MORE than 200 supporters of marriage equality have gathered at a rally at the former Baptist Church in Brisbane St, Studio 188.

A lone protester disrupted the first speech by Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood saying "marriage was between a man and a woman"and was escorted from the rally in a heated exchange as the crowd chanted "out, out, out".

Overall the rally went to plan apart from rain moving the event from d'Arcy Doyle Place to Studio 188.

Speakers criticised Member for Blair Shayne Neumann for his opposition to marriage equality.

Senator Waters said there was diverse support from the community on marriage equality and urged the people of Ipswich to pressure Mr Neumann to change his mind and "better represent their views" on the issue.

"Sentiment has really changed and we've seen poll after poll, the majority of Australians do support marriage equality," she said.

"The overwhelming majority of people are clearly in support of removing discrimination in marriage.

"I think the time for reform has come and I look forward to Parliament catching up with the community on this one."

Senator Lazarus said he was not surprised to see an impressive turnout at the Ipswich rally.

"The amount of people that come to my office and email me wanting elected politicians to get this issue sorted out is overwhelming," he said.

"It is something that affects millions of people. We just need to get it sorted sooner rather than later."

The Ipswich Marriage Equality Rally was organised by the Ipswich and Lockyer Greens party, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Ipswich and Australian Marriage Equality.